Common name:African Fern Pine
Botanical name:Afrocarpus elongatus
Soft, narrow, pointed leaves on graceful arching branches characterize this plant. The foliage is gray green, and the plant can be used as an individual specimen, screen, or even a small tree.
Common name:Catmint
Botanical name:Nepeta X faassenii
Nepeta faassenii makes soft, gray green, undulating mounds that are 1.5' high when blooming. The small leaves are attractive to cats. This perennial has lavender blue flowers in late spring and early summer.
Common name:Canyon Prince Wild Rye
Botanical name:Leymus condensatus 'Canyon Prince'
One of the best known and utilized native grass selections in Southern California, this beautiful, blue gray foliage spreads out 3'-4' or more. It will reach a height of 2'-3'. It rarely flowers. It does spread by rhizomes although not as vigorously as some closely related species. It can be extremely drought tolerant and care must be taken not to over water this species as it can rot from the center. Otherwise, it is carefree and requires virtually no maintenance.
Common name:Pheasant's Tail Grass
Botanical name:Stipa arundinacea
Pheasant's Tail Grass is a beautiful, fine, airy grass that is emerald green in color. It has many soft yellow, beige flower stalks in the spring. This grass grows 10"-12" tall , 1'-2' wide and is drought tolerant. -Cornflower Farms
Common name:Coast Live Oak
Botanical name:Quercus agrifolia
The Coast Live Oak is an evergreen round headed tree. It can reach 15'-40' high and 20' wide; it grows very well from the coastal areas to the interior valleys. It is native to California, is drought tolerant, and attracts butterflies. -Cornflower Farms
Putting the right plants in the right places in the right groupings is both the challenge and art of good landscape design.
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Designer: Rick Fisher | Umbrella for Spa |
Photographer: GardenSoft |
Practice grass-cycling by leaving short grass clippings on lawns after mowing, so that nutrients and organic matter are returned to the soil.
Mulching and adding compost to soil can minimize evaporation and help soil absorb and store water.
Attract, or buy beneficial insects such as ladybugs and lacewings to control pest outbreaks in your garden.